ROBERT ATEN was born in West Virginia in 1818, in what was then Brooke county of the old Dominion, a son of William and Jane (Anderson) Aten; his mother died in 1834, leaving a family of seven children. William Aten was a prosperous farmer, and was noted throughout the country for the excellent grade of horses he kept. He was married a second time to Catherine Wycoff, who bore him four children. He died in 1866, leaving an estate of fair value. Five of the children are still living: Robert, the subject of this biographical sketch; William, a resident of Fulton county; Mary, wife of William K. McClurg; Nancy Lester, a widow residing in McDonough county, Illinois; and Martha Beale, a widow in West Virginia; Aaron H., died in McDonough county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-two years; John C., died in Fulton county; Richard died in the same county; he was a pioneer of Illinois, coming in 1840, accompanied by Richard Aten. The latter returned to Virginia in 1842, and was back and forth until 1854, when he settled here permanently.

He was married in 1850 to Sarah Beale, a daughter of Benjamin Beal and a member of the prominent families of Virginia; she died one year later, to a day, leaving a daughter who died in infancy. Mr. Aten was married again in 1852 to Mary Jane Allison, who belonged to a well-known family. Of this union were born nine children, all of whom are living: Nancy L., now Mrs. Morris; Henry C., W. A. F., Robert Burns, Sarah, wife of Thomas Ashwood; James Grant, Daniel Webster, Flora Ann and John Q.

Mr. Aten's first purchase of land was eighty acres, for which he paid $600, he soon added another tract for which he paid $1,100, and at one time owned 700 acres; he has disposed of all but 400 acres. He carried on a general agricultural business. He makes a specialty of raising live-stock, and ships from two to three car-loads of hogs and as many cattle during the year. He began life with a small capital, but this was strongly supplemented with will and determination to succeed, and has arisen to a position of financial independence. Politically he has affiliated with the Whigs and then the Republicans. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, and give liberal support to the cause of Christianity. They have lived a useful life, and have borne their share of the burden assumed by the pioneers in their undertaking to redeem the wild prairie and bring it to a high state of cultivation, making of Illinois one of the leading agricultural States of the Union.